Jane Austen is one of the most beloved and accomplished figures in literary history, with engaging and witty stories about women and the inherent complications of status in relationships. Austen’s novels are ripe for adaptation, which has led to countless takes of her major works in various mediums. Pride and Prejudice is arguably considered to be her most famous work, and it did not take Hollywood too long to get it translated to the big screen. After a few false starts in production in the 1930s, director Robert Z. Leonard (The Great Ziegfeld) finally got the first theatrical production underway as an adaptation of the Helen Jerome stage version. In 1940, Pride and Prejudice was finally released to great critical acclaim. Eighty years later, this initial version ranks as one of the finest Austen adaptations put to film.
Most know the story of Pride and Prejudice like an old friend, but it is still owed further exploration here. The Bennet clan is a family of decent standing that has been blessed with five lovely daughters. The matriarch of the family, Mrs. Bennet (Mary Boland), seems to have the singular focus of finding a wealthy suitor for each of her girls. When a bevy of upper crust individuals arrive to town, the wheels in Mrs. Bennet’s head kick into overdrive. While she has an eye out for all of her daughters, her primary focus at the time is on her two eldest daughters, Jane (Maureen O’Sullivan) and Elizabeth (Greer Garson, Mrs. Miniver). Jane is more easy-going and quickly forms a connection with Mr. Bingley (Bruce Lester). Elizabeth, on the other hand, is a little more strong willed and opinionated than her other sisters. It does not help that her fated suitor, Mr. Darcy (Laurence Olivier, Rebecca), is a bit awkward and unfairly snooty in their early interactions. Class discrepancies have a tendency to rear their ugly head during this time period, especially. The two are destined to be with one another, but they are going to have to overcome many obstacles to reach that point.
This adaptation of Pride and Prejudice set an incredibly high bar for all future versions to try to clear. Laurence Olivier inhabits the iconic character of Mr. Darcy in such a way that actors for decades would be afraid to attempt it themselves. He effortlessly performs the delicate balance of showcasing the early prejudice while not completely handicapping him as an irredeemable character. When he does soften, he does so in such a manner that it does not seem entirely out of nowhere. He retains the emotional awkwardness that comes from a man who is not used to dealing with such feelings. As you near the end of the story, Olivier becomes the swoon-worthy Darcy that everyone expects. Greer Garson imbues Elizabeth with a strong will that is utterly endearing. You cheer for Elizabeth as she stands up for herself and her family when she feels wronged. These two are surrounded by a cast so strong that you can scarcely believe one movie can contain such talent. Edna May Oliver steals the movie as the haughty Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who looms large over seemingly everyone.
Director Robert Z. Leonard lovingly creates a visually lush environment filled with beautiful production design and some of the most opulent costumes you have seen. All of the elements of this production seem to be working together in perfect harmony. This is such an iconic story, but the creators find a way to breathe new life into it with a lively energy that cannot be artificially manufactured. There are some minor changes to the novel that play well within the context of the film, such as a more lighthearted interaction with between Lady Catherine and Mr. Darcy near the end of the film. The film is an expertly paced take on a well-known story that brings a great amount of joy. Even if you feel you have had your fill of Pride and Prejudice adaptations, you owe it to yourself to check this one out if you like the basic story.
Video Quality
Pride and Prejudice comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive sourced from a new 4K scan of the MGM safety composite fine grain. While the original camera negative was unavailable, you would be hard pressed to notice a difference with this spectacular looking presentation. The beautiful black-and-white photography sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. The contrast is well defined, and there is virtually no print damage to be found. There is an incredible amount of detail present with nice texture on the costumes and in the lavish production design. Black levels are appropriately deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. Warner Archive has once again proven why they are a leader in the preservation front.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that is likewise quite fabulous. Dialogue and background noises are represented perfectly along with the whimsical score from Herbert Stothart. No sounds ever overpower the classic dialogue that is being spoken here. There is no discernable age related wear and tear to the track such as hissing or popping. While mostly dialogue driven throughout, the more kinetic moments are handled with ease and give the track a bit of punch. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. Warner Archive has provided an excellent sounding disc.
Special Features
- Crime Does Not Pay Short – Eyes of the Navy: A twenty-minute MGM short film that serves as a bit of a recruiting tool for the war effort. It highlights the responsibilities of the soldiers while showcasing how they have a “work hard, play hard” philosophy that seems a bit duplicitous. Very interesting to view in a historical context.
- Cartoon – The Fishing Bear: An eight-minute MGM Barney Bear cartoon in which he tries to go fishing, but runs into many complications. This is a really fun addition. Play it before the film to really get the old school theatrical experience!
- Trailer: A nearly three-minute trailer highlighting the cast’s achievements with clips from the film and text that helps flesh out plot details. This shows a lot of important moments, so proceed with caution if you don’t want things spoiled prior to your viewing.
Final Thoughts
Though oft told, the story of Pride and Prejudice has rarely been executed as well as this first 1940 film adaptation. The dynamite combination of Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson proves too much to resist. This immense talent mixed with some truly splendid production elements is a recipe for success. Warner Archive has provided a truly wonderful A/V presentation along with some pretty cool special features. Fans of lavish old Hollywood films should not hesitate to pick up this excellent disc. Recommended
Pride and Prejudice can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
